A national foundation's claim that University of Alabama policies infringe on students' First Amendment rights stems from an anti-abortion display and pro-abortion rights counter protest on the quad in April 2013. (Evan Belanger/Alabama Media Group)

"Please spare the University of Alabama the embarrassment of fighting against the Bill of Rights -- a statement of both law and principle by which the university is legally and morally bound," Peter Bonilla, associate director of FIRE's Individual Rights Defense Program, wrote.

According to a FIRE press release, members of the Alabama Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Justice handed out flyers in an attempt to counter GAP's anti-abortion message.

According to UA student newspaper The Crimson White, a bystander who received a flyer complained to a police officer that the material was "obscene," and officers moved to arrest AASRJ . The students were allowed to go once the situation was explained but were ordered to stop passing out flyers, on the grounds that AASRJ did not have a grounds use permit.

AASRJ members say they applied for a permit following the incident, in the hopes to resume their activities on April 11. UA officials said it would take days for the permit to be approved.

FIRE writes that the policy is impractical and unconstitutional because it does not allow for "spontaneous expression or demonstration" by students.

"Rallies and demonstration -- not to mention AASRJ's simple act of distributing information literature -- are often timely response to recent or still-unfolding events," Bonilla wrote. "To prohibit all such events on campus is to suppress free and open discourse."

FIRE's request for a policy change echoes those of students, including The Crimson White's editorial board. On Feb. 20, 2013, the paper's editorial board published an Our View in response to the Harlem Shake incident, calling for changes to be made to the grounds use policy.

"The last thing UA needs to do right now is stand behind its antiquated policy that stifles free speech and racial, organizational and cultural integration on this campus," the editorial board wrote. "The policy needs to change, and students need to press for this change."